Bioagent air filtration systems

ABSTRACT

Generally, systems for air and water purification using unpowered charged sorbent mediums ( 3 ) which may include layered double hydroxide (LDH) ( 1 ) compositions, lignin ( 2 ), and methods of sorbing inorganic or organic material(s) onto such mediums, including an ionic contaminants ( 10 ), cationic contaminants ( 11 ), non-ionic organic contaminants ( 20 ), and even biological agents ( 7 ) such as bacteria or viruses present in liquids or gases.

I. CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is an international application claiming the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/443,548, filed 28 Jan. 2003, herebyincorporated by reference.

II. TECHNICAL FIELD

Generally, filtration systems, layered double hydroxide (LDH) compoundsand methods of sorbing inorganic or organic material(s) onto such LDHcompounds, including biological agents such as bacteria or virusespresent in liquids or gases.

III. BACKGROUND

Numerous species of biological agents, including, but not limited to,protozoans parasites, bacteria, fungi, or viruses enter water systems orenter the atmosphere from sources such as solid waste material,commercial processing wastes, sewage effluent, septic tanks effluents,sewage sludge, garbage disposal, urban runoff, medical facilities,agricultural runoff, human beings sneezing or coughing and the like.

Bacteria are well adapted to and are common biological agents in watersystems. Bacteria may have ranges in size from about 1000 nanometers(nm) to about 10,000 nm in size and include species such as Aeromonas,campylobacter, Escherichia coli, Helicobacter pylori, Legionella,Nontuberculosis inycobacteria, Psedomonas aeruginosa, salmonella,shigella, Vibrio cholerae, Yersinia enterocolitica, and the likebacteria.

Major bacteria identified in ambient air include species such as:Acinetobacter, Ordetella perfussis, Corynebacteria diphtheria,Mycobacterium avium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, andthe like bacteria.

Viruses have been detected in all environments including water systemsas described by Gerba, C. P. and Rose, J. B., “Viruses in Source andDrinking Water”, Drinking Water Microbiology (1990), incorporated byreference herein, and in ambient air. Most viruses are small (about 20nm to about 200 nm) and consist of nucleic acid encapsulated in proteinmolecules. In municipal sewage, more than 100 different viruses may beidentified, and viruses such as poliovirus, hepatitis A, echo,coxsackie, rota, adeno, or Norwalk-like viruses are virulently hazardousat very low concentrations. In ambient air, viruses such as adenovirus,coronavirus, echovirus, influenza, and rhinovirus have been widelydetected.

Because the occurrence of pathogenic biological agents in water and airsystems constitutes a serious threat to human health and can be thesource of a variety of diseases, such as gastroenteritis, cholera,hepatitis, typhoid fever, giardiasis, or the like, the United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency is in the process of addressing thepublic health risk resulting from pathogenic contamination of watersystems.

However, the use of conventional large-scale water purificationtechnologies such as ultraviolet irradiation or chlorination may allowconcentrations of pathogenic biological agents to survive. As such,secondary treatment of conventionally treated water may be necessary tocompletely capture or remove biological agents in water systems. Inaddition, these technologies are largely not available in rural areas,military operations, tourism sites, etc. Under such circumstances,portable apparatus with low or no power requirements are in need toremove bioagents from the water systems.

To meet the demand for secondary treatment technology, including, butnot limited to, commercial or residential secondary water treatment, avariety of distillation, reverse osmosis, and filtration systems havebeen developed which utilize evaporation, activated carbon, ion exchangeresins, or reverse osmosis membranes to further purify water. However,even though these conventional technologies can be effective in theremoval of certain organic compounds, and certain metals, such as leadand mercury, a variety of problems remain yet to be addressed withrespect to both primary and secondary treatment methods.

A significant problem with conventional water treatment technology canbe that loading capacity of activated carbon or ion exchange resins, orthe like, can be low requiring frequent changes or requiring thefrequent use of reactivation procedures to maintain water quality.Similarly, reverse osmosis membranes may not be suitable forpurification of water with high levels of dissolved solids because thereverse osmosis membrane can become saturated or clogged with solidsresulting in reduced efficiency.

Another significant problem with conventional water treatment technologycan be that the amount of water processed may be low. Conventionalevaporation technology and reverse osmosis technology are typicallysuitable only for those applications in which small volumes of water areto be purified, such as in the residential setting to purify drinkingwater. In addition, the energy and pressurizing requirements of reverseosmosis treatment further limit its use.

Another significant problem with conventional water treatment technologycan be that sorbent materials used in conventional water treatment maypossess a neutral or negatively charged surface. While some biologicalagents may nonspecifically interact with neutral or negatively chargedsorbents, the low binding efficiency excludes the use of these sorbentsto attract, capture, collect, or remove biological-agents from watersystems.

These problems with conventional water treatment technology coupled withthe increasing concerns over pathogenic microbial contamination ofdrinking water, and especially in view of recent concerns over the useof biological agents as weapons, warrant the imminent development of acost-effective water treatment technology that can be readily applied toremove biological agents from water systems.

Moreover significant problems remain unresolved with regard toconventional air or gas treatment technology. Prominent among theseproblems may be that conventional gas filtration systems may only removerelatively large particulates such as pollen while allowing pathogenicagents such as viruses to pass through without retention to the filtermaterial.

The instant invention addresses each of these concerns with respect toattracting, capturing, inactivating, or removing metal ions, inorganicand organic compounds, or biological agents from aqueous systems or gassystems whether the treatment is primary or secondary.

On the basis of their structure and properties, specific applicationsfor layered double hydroxide (LDH) compounds and compositions have beenpreviously identified. These include the use of LDH compounds ascatalysts and catalyst precursors, as antacids, as solid ionicconductors, in preparation of pigments, to interact with anioniccontaminants such as Cr₂O₇ ²⁻, trichlorophenol (TCP), and to interactwith radioactive anionic pollutants TcO₄ ⁻, ReO₄ ⁻ and I⁻.

IV. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a significant objective of the invention is to providematerials that, individually or in combination, interact with, capture,sorb, inactivate, or exchange a wide variety of materials in water orgas such as metal ions, inorganic compounds, organic compounds,biological agents, or the like materials.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide layereddouble hydroxide compounds to treat water or gas by sorbing, absorbing,adsorbing, interacting with, attracting, sequestering, capturing,deactivating, or removing bacteria, including, but not limited tobacteria in the group consisting of: Acinetobacter, Aeromonas,Cainpylobacter, Corynebacteria diphtheria, Escherichia coli,Helicobacter pylori, Legionella, Mycobacterium avium, Nontuberculosismycobacteria, Ordetella perfussis, Psedomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella,Sshigella, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio vholerae, and Yersinia andother opportunistic bacteria.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide layereddouble hydroxide compounds to treat water or gas by sorbing, absorbing,adsorbing, interacting with, attracting, sequestering, capturing,deactivating, or removing viruses, including, but not limited to virusesin the group consisting of: Adeizovirus, Coronavirus, Coxsackievirus,Echovirus, Enteroviruses, Hepatitis virus, Influenza, Norwalk-likevirus, Poliovirus, Reovirus, Rotovirus, Toravirus, and the like viruses.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide layereddouble hydroxide compounds that exhibit positively charged surface areasor regions which can interact with negatively charged surface areas orregions of biological agents to attract, sorb, absorb, adsorb,sequester, capture, or remove them from water or air systems.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide layereddouble hydroxide compounds having intercalated ions of sufficient sizeto maintain or orient the sheets of the layered double hydroxidecompounds a sufficient distance apart to allow or optimize interactionof the positively charged surfaces of layered double hydroxide compoundwith the numerous and varied biological agents, or materials, to beattracted, sorbed, absorbed, adsorbed, captured, sequestered, or removedfrom water or air systems.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide layereddouble hydroxide compounds for the removal of, both pathogenicbiological agents and toxic anionic trace elements, including, but notlimited to, arsenic or selenium, independently or at the same time.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide layereddouble hydroxide compounds which attract, sorb, absorb, adsorb,sequester, capture, or remove pathogenic biological agents and toxicanionic compounds from water systems at same time.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide layereddouble hydroxide compounds for the removal of, both pathogenic andnonpathogenic biological agents and anions, including, but not limitedto, phosphate, sulfate, and carbonate.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide layereddouble hydroxide compounds (which exhibit positively charged surfaceareas or regions) attached to materials having negatively chargedsurface areas or regions whereby the presentation of both the positivelycharged surface of the layered double hydroxide in combination with thenegatively charged surface of the attached material can attract, sorb,absorb, adsorb, capture, sequester, exchange, or remove materials(including mixtures of metal oxides and biological agents) in fluidsthat have either positively charged surface areas or regions ornegatively charged surface areas or regions, or both.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide layereddouble hydroxide-lignin compounds for the removal of, individually or incombination, biological agents or metals from liquids.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide layereddouble hydroxide-lignin compounds for the removal of, individually or incombination, biological agents or metals from gases.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide layereddouble hydroxide compounds that can be calcined to reactivate thelayered double hydroxide compound, or destroy or deactivate the sorbedbiological agents after use.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide layereddouble hydroxide compounds that can be dissolved in acid solution andresynthesized by coprecipitation method(s) for recycle use after beingfirst used for removing biological agents from water systems or gassystems.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide watertreatment apparatus including, but not limited to, batch processcontainers, flow through containers, columns, bags, tubes, or the like,whether disposable or reusable, filled with one or more layered doublehydroxide compounds or one or more layered double hydroxides bound,attached, or coating support or carrier materials such as filters,membranes, or particles, to be used as water treatment apparatus for theremoval of particulate, metals, inorganic compounds, organic compounds,or biological agents from water. The water treatment apparatus can besized or configured to the particular application, the amount of waterto be processed, and the location at which the water is processed.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide watertreatment apparatus for residential use configured to attach to or adaptto existing residential plumbing or water inlet or outlet fixtures totreat residential water by removal of metal, inorganic compounds,organic compounds, or biological agents.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide easy-carrywater treatment apparatus for United States army or military in thefield to treat field water by removal of metal, inorganic compounds,organic compounds, or biological agents and obtain potable water.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide fluidfiltration systems that can be used for emergency response efforts totreat contaminated water or air.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide layereddouble hydroxide compounds to biological scientists and environmentalengineers to concentrate biological agents, including, but not limitedto, bacteria and viruses, from liquid and gas samples.

Another significant object of the invention is to provide portable wateror air treatment apparatus for military or other purposes which isdiscrete or can be combined with existing water or air treatmentapparatus for use in the field.

Another significant object of the invention can be to provide layereddouble hydroxide compounds connected, attached or otherwise coated to amembrane or filter surface to collect or concentrate biological agents,such as bacteria, viruses, prions, proteins, nucleic acids, or otherbiological agents, components, or molecules in liquids. The biologicalagents collected or concentrated by the layered double hydroxidecompound can serve as samples for qualification or quantification orotherwise analyzed to detect, identify, and characterize the collectedbiological agents.

Yet another object of the invention can be to provide gas treatmentapparatus in batch process containers, flow through containers, columns,tubes, or the like, whether disposable or reusable, filled with one ormore layered double hydroxide compounds or one or more layered doublehydroxides bound, attached, or coating support or carrier materials suchas filters, membranes, or particles, to be used to purify gases, orpurify air or other partial pressures of gases, or otherwise treat gasby removal of particulate, metals, inorganic compounds, organiccompounds, or biological agents. Specifically, layered double hydroxidecompounds, including, but not limited to, layered doublehydroxide-lignin compounds can be used to remove potential pathogens inthe air delivered to residential or commercial buildings.

Naturally, further independent objects of the invention are disclosedthroughout other areas of the specification.

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the present invention for impurity sorption.

FIG. 2 is a generic structure of layered double hydroxides in anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows certain embodiments of the invention for layered doublehydroxide compounds that can sorb certain inorganic or organicmaterial(s).

FIG. 4 shows certain embodiments of the invention for layered doublehydroxide-lignin compounds.

FIG. 5 shows certain embodiments of the invention which comprise alayered double hydroxide layer.

FIG. 6 shows certain embodiments of the invention which comprise layereddouble hydroxide and lignin layers.

FIG. 7 shows certain embodiments of the invention which comprise layereddouble hydroxide and lignin and oragnic compounds.

FIG. 8 is an embodiment of the present invention of a mask.

FIG. 9 is a representative view of an embodiment for water purificationof the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows certain embodiments of the invention which compriselayered double hydroxide compounds that can sorb nonionic organiccontaminants (NOCs).

FIG. 11 is schematic view of an embodiment of the invention showing someof the more conceptual elements that may be included.

VI. MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As mentioned earlier, the present invention includes a variety ofaspects, which may be combined in different ways. The followingdescriptions are provided to list elements and describe some of theembodiments of the present invention. These elements are listed withinitial embodiments, however it should be understood that they may becombined in any manner and in any number to create additionalembodiments. The variously described examples and preferred embodimentsshould not be construed to limit the present invention to only theexplicitly described systems, techniques, and applications. Further,this description should further be understood to support and encompassdescriptions and claims of all the various embodiments, systems,techniques, methods, devices, and applications with any number of thedisclosed elements, with each element alone, and also with any and allvarious permutations and combinations of all elements in this or anysubsequent application.

Generally, the present invention may provide a system for removal ofimpurities from any type of fluid. Impurities may include contaminants,pollutants, or any type of undesired component that may be found influids. A fluid (40) may include any substance that is capable flowing,such as but not limited to liquid, gas, water, air, or the like. In someembodiments, the present invention may include establishing a fluid (40)which may include containing air or water in some sort of container,providing some type of indoor or enclosed area for air or water,providing air or water from outdoors, among others.

Water may be used from a stream, any type of plumbing system, faucet, orany water source and air may be used from the outdoors, indoors,buildings, vehicles, and the like. Water may include raw water or evenprimarily treated water. Raw water is to be understood as any water thatis in a natural, uncultivated, or even unrefined state, it may beuntreated water, or may be water from a river, ocean, stream, rain, andthe like water sources. Primarily treated water may include water whichmay have been previously filtered, for example, water as received in ahome or office, which may have gone through a municipal filtrationsystem, such as water found in a residential or commercial building orthe like.

A fluid (40) may contain impurities that may be desired to be removedbefore a human, animal or the like consumes or may be exposed to thosecontaminants—possibly for the prevention of an illness. In someembodiments, the present invention may include the removal ofnanostructural components from fluids. A nanostructural component may beany structure that is very small, minute, not visible or detectable bythe eye, or the like.

In fluids, different types of impurities or contaminants may exist. Forexample, fluids may contain a first, second and third components, amongothers. A first component (4) may include any substance, chemical, orcompound found in a fluid and may even include an anionic substance,such as but not limited to, an anionic contaminant (8), a biologicalagent, arsenic, selenium, dicamba, anionic surfactant, virus, bacteria,hormone, fungi, prions, proteins, nucleic acids, phosphate, sulfate,carbonate, MS2 virus, Phi-X 174, Escherichia coli strains, Pseudomonasarugenosa, and the like contaminants. A second component (5) may includeany substance, chemical, or compound found in a fluid and may eveninclude a cationic contaminant, lead, chromium, zinc, mercury, ammonium,sodium, calcium, iron, copper, and the like contaminants. A thirdcomponent (6) may include any substance, chemical, or compound found ina fluid and may even include substances that are not anionic norcationic that may exist in a fluid, such as but not limited to non-ionicorganic contaminants (20), 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene,1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and thelike contaminants. A bioagent may include any type of living organism,such as but not limited to virus, bacteria, hormone, fungi, MS2 virus,Phi-X 174, Escherichia coli strains, Pseudomonas arugenosa, and the likebioagents.

To remove various impurities or contaminants from fluids, the presentinvention may include providing an unpowered charged sorbent medium (3),shown in FIG. 1. Previous attempts for filtration may include varioustypes of filters that may be connected to a power source, such as aplug, battery, or the like, in order to create an electrostatic charge.Here, the present invention may include a medium that may not beconnected to any sort of power source, yet contains a charge, either orboth negative and positive, and which may be capable of sorbing variousimpurities. A sorbent may be any substance, compound, composition,chemical, or the like which can gather other substances and even gatherother substances on a surface. Other substances may include impurities,contaminants and the like. Sorption of an impurity may include any kindof taking and holding of an impurity, possibly by absorption oradsorption.

A medium may include an intervening substance and may even include anytype of porous support mediums which may be permeable by fluid, water,air, and the like and which holds or bears some sort of sorbent element.Mediums may include any substance that can be used for filtration orpurification of fluids, such as but not limited to filter paper, planpaper, special paper fibers, cloth, fabric, water insoluble substances,coated particles, coating support, carrier materials and the like.

An unpowered charged sorbent medium (3) may include a layered doublehydroxide (“LDH”) composition (1) which may contain a net positivecharge as shown in FIG. 4. In embodiments, the present invention mayinclude containing LDH compositions. Referring primarily to FIGS. 1 and2, LDH (1) compounds are stacked positively charged octahedral sheetshaving a general formula of:[M^(II) _(1-x)M^(III) _(x)(OH)₂]^(z+)A_(z/n) ·yH₂O,wherein M^(II) and M^(III) are bivalent and trivalent cations inoctahedral positions and A^(n−) are anions intercalcated with theoctahedral sheets or anions bound in an intermediate layer. Theinterlayer spacing of the octahedral sheets can vary depending on thesize and geometrical structure of the intercalated anions. The netpositive charge on the surface of LDH compounds may be due to theisomorphic substitution of trivalent metals by divalent metals and thispositive charge on the surface of LDH compound may be balanced by theintercalated anions. Due to their structure, LDH compounds can exhibitrelatively large surface areas (0.02-0.12 km²/kg) and high anionexchange capacities (200-500 cmol/kg). LDH compounds also can exhibithigh pH buffering capacities and are relatively stable under a widerange of pH values. Thermal stability of LDH compounds may be dependenton the intercalcated anions and LDH compounds can may maintain theirlayered structure at temperatures under about 250° C.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 a layered double hydroxide composition (1)may include interlayer anions (18), divalent and trivalent cations (19)and hydroxide (23). In embodiments, M^(II) may include divalent cationssuch as but not limited to Ca²+, Mg⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²+, M²⁺, andthe like cations. M^(III) may include trivalent cations such as but notlimited to Al³⁺, Cr³⁺, Fe³⁺, Co³⁺, Mn³⁺, and the like cations. A^(n−)may include interlayer anions such as but not limited to Cl⁻, NO₃—, ClO₄⁻, CO₃ ²⁻, SO₄ ²⁻; and the like interlayer anions. X may include anumerical number which can be, but is not limited to any number betweenabout 0.1 to about 0.3. Of course, this number may vary. The number maydetermine the LDH anionic exchange capacity, which may also determinethe removal ability of LDH. LDH compounds can be synthesized bycoprecipitation of a solution of bivalent and trivalent metal salts witha base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, as known tothose skilled in the art.

Referring to FIG. 4, embodiments of the invention can include containingan amount of lignin (2) or even a lignin-dominant substance. Anunpowered charged sorbent medium (3) may include lignin. Lignin may beused, in embodiments, as a pure substance or may be combined with othersubstances to create a lignin-dominated substance. A lignin-dominatedsubstance may include any lignin-dominant waste, such as dried solids of“black liquor” (waste stream from paper industry), biowaste which mayinclude, but it not limited to corn stalks, rice grains, and the like.Lignin (2) may be physically mixed with LDH or LDH can be precipitatedon a lignin surface during the synthesis. Lignin is one of the mostabundant biomass components on the planet and a numerous and widevariety of lignin compounds can be obtained through synthesis.

Lignin compounds generally carry negative charges on its surface, whichoffer numerous binding sites for cationic contaminants (9), positivelycharged compounds or even metals or the like. For example, toxic metalshaving ionic forms with positive charges are often present in watersystems. Lignin compounds can remove about 99.9% of these metals fromthe aqueous phase. The combination of lignin (2) with LDH compounds canpossess the affinity to both negatively charged contaminants asdiscussed above and to positively charged contaminants. Understandably,a lignin and LDH compound can be useful in attracting, collecting,sequestering, retaining, or removing either positively charged ions ornegatively charged contaminants, individually or simultaneously.

In embodiments, the present invention may include moving at least someof a fluid in the vicinity of a sorbent or a medium having sorbents.Sorbents may include an anionic contaminant sorbent, a cationiccontaminant sorbent (11), LDH composition, anionic compositions (13),cationic compositions (12), lignin, or any substance capable of sorbing.A movement may include a flow or current of any type including but notlimited to physically moving a fluid, osmosis, mechanically moving afluid, or the like fluid flow. A circulation element (50) may be usedfor a mechanical movement and may even be used to drive or force fluidmovement, such as but not limited to an air blower, air conditioner,water or air pump, fan, an electronic apparatus, or any device forproducing a current of fluid by movement of the device. Physicallymoving a fluid may include any type of movement made by a user oroccurring naturally such as but not limited to stirring, breathing,wind, pouring water, river flow and the like.

As a fluid is moving, it may be near or in the proximity of a sorbent.Of course, not all of a fluid may be in the vicinity of a sorbent, butat least some of a fluid may get close enough to allow attraction ofcertain types of molecules to the sorbent. A fluid may pass through amedium and some fluid components may be prevented from moving through amedium due to the porous nature of a medium. For example, even withoutattraction, relatively larger substances may not pass through pores in amedium because of their size. Yet, smaller substances may fit throughthe pores and pass through a medium.

Accordingly, to remove a variety of impurities from fluids, the presentinvention, in embodiments, may provide attracting impurities to acharged component or sorbent. As previously discussed, impurities orcontaminants may include first, second and third components, anioniccontaminants, cationic contaminants, non-ionic organic contaminants andeven biological agents. Anionic components having a net negative chargeand even cationic compositions (12) having a net positive charge may beprovided. By attraction, an impurity may be drawn by a physical forcecausing or tending to cause an impurity to approach, adhere, or unite toa charged component. This may include, but is not limited to theinteractions between oppositely charged substances such as ionicinteractions between a cation and an anion.

In embodiments, a dual sorbent medium may be provided in which any typeof medium may sorb at least two types of contaminants. This may includean anionic component (13) and a cationic composition (12). Cationiccomposition (12) may include layered double hydroxide compositions.Layered double hydroxides may include an anionic contaminant sorbent(10) due to the attraction of anions. Anionic components (13) mayinclude lignin. Lignin may include a cationic contaminant sorbent due tothe attraction of cations.

In other embodiments, the present invention may include sorbing at leastsome impurities to a component or sorbent. This may include, in variousembodiments and as shown in FIG. 7 sorbing a first component (4) on ananionic component (13), sorbing a second component (5) on a cationiccomposition (12), sorbing a third component (6) on an organic component,sorbing an anionic contaminant (8) on LDH (1), sorbing cationiccontaminants (9) on lignin (2), sorbing non-ionic organic contaminants(20) on organic components (17), sorbing biological agents on aunpowered sorbent medium and the like. Sorbing may include gathering orbinding impurities to a component perhaps by absorption or adsorption ora combination of the two processes, as known to those skilled in theart. Of course, some impurities or contaminants may not be sorbed. Animpurity may be sorbed on a surface of a component, such as LDH as shownin FIG. 1.

After a fluid has been in some contact with a sorbent component, thepresent invention may provide moving a fluid with at least somereduction (42) of an impurity. This may be further illustrated in FIGS.5, 6 and 8 where the fluid may be passed through some sort of filter andas it exits the filter or perhaps even as the fluid moves away from afilter (43) or purification apparatus, the fluid may be in a state ofdepletion of impurities. A fluid may have less impurities orcontaminants then were originally present.

In certain embodiments, the present invention may include providinglayered double hydroxide composition and containing an amount of LDH.This may include containing LDH in any way, and even a filtering devicewhether it be for air or water filtration. The present invention mayeven include any type of medium that can hold LDH particles orsolutions. Depending on how much fluid that may be desired to befiltered, an amount of LDH may be contained.

In embodiments, the present invention may include an anionic contaminantsorbent (10) which may include any type of sorbent that can sorb anioniccontaminants (8). Accordingly, an anionic contaminant sorbent mayinclude sorbing of inorganic and organic anionic contaminants. Someinorganic contaminants may include Cl⁻, NO₃ ⁻, ClO₄ ⁻, CO₃ ²⁻, CrO₄ ²⁻,SeO₃ ²⁻; SeO₄ ²⁻, As(III) as well as other anionic inorganic substances.Some organic contaminants may include trichlorophenol (TCP),trinitrophenol (TNP), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 3,6dichloro-2-methoxy benzoic acid (dicamba), octylsulfate (SOS), sodiumdodecylsulfate (SDS), sodium 4-octylbenzenesulfonate (SOBS), sodiumdodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS), as well as other cationic organicsubstances. Anionic contaminant sorbents (10) may also sorb biologicalagents (7) such as viruses, bacteria, and the like. Some examples ofthese may include MS2, Phi-x 174, E coli, SO₂, NO_(x), H₂S, phenoliccompounds, and other anionic organic vapors. Due to the number ofdifferent bacteria, any type of bacteria may be included and thus may besorbed onto an anionic contaminant sorbent.

Certain embodiments of the invention comprise LDH compounds that canremove inorganic and organic material(s) from aqueous systems. Forexample, various LDH compounds and calcined-LDH compounds in accordancewith the invention can be synthesized and used to sorb anionic selenium,arsenic, or dicamba (3,6 dichloro-2-methoxy benzoic acid), and otherinorganic and organic materials.

In embodiments, biological agents may be substantially sorbed on asurface of layered double hydroxide composition, as shown in FIG. 1. Atleast some of the anionic contaminants may sorb on a surface of LDH, asshown in FIG. 1. This may occur due to the pore size on the surface ofthe LDH. Some anionic contaminants may be larger than the pore size ofthe LDH and may be sorbed on the surface of the LDH. Of course, somecontaminants may fit through the pores and may even be sorbed in theintermediate layer of an LDH composition. The larger anioniccontaminants may remain sorbed to the surface of the LDH compound andthese larger contaminants may include, but is not limited to viruses,fungi and any other large substances, bioagents, or compounds.

By substantially sorbed it is to be understood that LDH has a certainnumber of sites that it can sorb various anionic contaminants. At somepoint, the LDH surface may become full or mostly full of anioniccontaminants and can no longer attract and sorb additional biologicalagents (7). A filter having LDH may be saturated when all or most of theLDH sorbing sites may be occupied by bioagents therefore no furthersorption could occur. At this point, the LDH may need to be removed froma filtration system and replaced with either new unsorbed LDH or evenre-activated LDH. The lifespan for a filter may be calculated by the perunit sorbing capacity of LDH to certain bioagents. For example, forbacteria, typically 1 gram of LDH can sorb 10ˆ8 bacteria If it isdetermined that there are 10ˆ16 bacteria in certain volume of pretreatedmedium, 2 grams of LDH could be the minimal requirement. To beconservative, a filter may be changed at about 60% to about 75% full. Apercentage sorbent value may represent the amount of bioagents sorbed ona medium such as a filter having LDH. While this may include anypercentage value, such possibilities may include:

-   -   about 60%;    -   about 75%;    -   about 85%; and    -   about 95%.        Other values are certainly possible and all should be understood        as represented within the scope of this invention.

The present invention may include, in embodiments, chemicallyassociating LDH and lignin. In embodiments, a chemical mixture (16) mayinclude an anionic component (11) and a cationic component (12) and mayeven include LDH (1) and lignin (2). A chemical mixture (16) may includean aggregate of two or more substances that are chemically united. Achemical association may include, but is not limited to ionic bonding,covalent bonding, tether molecule, hydrophobic interaction, and the likeas known to those skilled in the art. In other embodiments, LDH andlignin may be mixed where they are not chemically united and may evenexist in no fixed proportion to each other.

LDH compounds, as described above, or otherwise described orsynthesized, can be associated directly with lignin through ion bonding,or can be associated with lignin through a tether molecule attached tolignin that presents a region sufficiently negatively charged togenerate an ionic bond or covalent bond with LDH compound(s). LDH may betethered to lignin with a variety of tether or linking molecules thatmay generate covalent bonds between the tether and lignin or between thetether and LDH compound(s) or both, or LDH compounds may becomeassociated with lignin by hydrophobic interaction, or the like. A widevariety of linking or tether molecules could be used to associate LDHcompounds with lignin. The tether molecules could be selected on thebasis of length, reactive groups, hydrophilicity, resistance todegradation, or the like. Understandably, numerous permutations andcombinations of lignin-LDH, or lignin-tether-LDH, can be generated. EachLDH, organo-LDH, lignin-LDH, or lignin-tether-LDH can be used inaccordance with the invention to interact with, sequester, sorb,inactive, or remove biological agents from various types of aqueoussystems.

The present invention may provide, in embodiments, functionallysituating unpowered charged sorbent medium (3) with lignin or evenfunctionally situating an amount of LDH with an amount of lignin. Thismay include moving at least some of a fluid near or through LDH and somefluid may be moved near or through lignin. Depending on the type ofenvironment, a fluid may be desired to first be filtered through LDH andthen through lignin. Or it may be desirable to first filter a fluidthrough lignin then through LDH. This may include stacking or layeringLDH and lignin. In FIG. 6, a LDH layer (14) and a lignin layer (15) in acolumn is shown. A fluid (40) having various contaminants such asanionic contaminants, biological agents, or cationic contaminants maymove in a flow direction (36) through a column. In embodiments, a fluidmay pass through a LDH layer (14), a porous barrier (44) and a ligninlayer (15). A fluid may move out of a column with a reduction (42) ofcontaminants. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a column may contain at leastLDH. While it can be used in columns, other embodiments may includelayering with at least two sheets of medium, such as paper, in which oneis coated with LDH and the other is coated with lignin. These sheets maybe layered, one in front of the other and may even be separated by acertain amount of distance—such that the fluid may come into contactwith both LDH and lignin. Functionally situating may include LDHcompositions that are separate and distinct from lignin. By separate anddistinct, LDH may not be mixed with lignin. This may include layers ofLDH and layers of lignin and may even include separate filter withlignin and a separate filter with LDH. Contrarily, lignin and LDH may beintermixed with each other, in a solution or coated together on the samefilter, and the like.

In embodiments, the present invention may include a cationic contaminant(9). A cationic contaminant (9) may be any cation and may include lead,chromium, zinc, mercury, ammonium, sodium, calcium, iron, copper, andthe like. Lignin may include a cationic contaminant sorbent in whichcationic contaminants may be attracted and sorbed on lignin.

In embodiments the present invention may include containing an amount oforganic composition (17). Referring to FIG. 10, LDH compounds or evenorganic compositions can sorb nonionic organic contaminants (NOCs) fromaqueous systems. Various organo-LDH compounds in accordance with theinvention can be synthesized by intercalation of a variety of organicanions in the alternative to intercalation of inorganic anions. Theresulting organo-LDH compounds can have organophilic properties. Thesemodified organo-LDH compounds can exhibit high sorption capacity forvarious NOCs, such as 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane,trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene in aqueous solutions. Compoundsin accordance with the invention as shown in FIG. 10, provide aninterlayer arrangement of anionic surfactants such as octylsulfacte,dodecylsulfate, octylbenzenesulfonate, dodecylbenzenesulfonate, or thelike. These examples are meant to be illustrative of the wide variety ofanionic surfactants that can be intercalated between brucite layers inaccordance with the invention.

In embodiments, the present invention may provide for moving a fluid inthe vicinity of an organic composition (17). Impurities in the fluid maybe attracted and may even be sorbed by the organic composition (17).Particularly, organic compositions may sorb non-ionic organiccontaminants (20). For example, non-ionic organic contaminants mayinclude benzene, ethybenzene, toluene, xylenes, other aromaticcompounds, perchloroethene, trichloroethene, dichloroethene and thelike. In embodiments, the present invention may include moving a fluidwith a reduction of non-ionic organic contaminants (20).

In other embodiments, a percentage non-ionic organic contaminantreduction amount may be removed from a fluid. While any percentage ofremoval is possible, such possibilities may include:

-   -   about 70% non-ionic contaminant reduction;    -   about 75% non-ionic contaminant reduction;    -   about 80% non-ionic contaminant reduction;    -   about 85% non-ionic contaminant reduction; and    -   about 90% non-ionic contaminant reduction;        Other percentage removals are certainly possible and all should        be understood as represented within the scope of this invention.

In embodiments, the present invention may provide removing harmfulbiological agents from fluids such as air and water. Some harmfulbiological agents may include coronavirus, influenze, bacillusanthracis, measles, smallpox virus, among any disease that may cause asevere illness, perhaps even death.

In an embodiment, the present invention may include providing an amountof LDH functionally situated with lignin and organic compositions (17),as previously discussed. An organic composition may be mixed with ligninand LDH. In embodiments, the present invention may provide an organiccomposition layer, an LDH composition layer and even a lignin layer.

Unknown prior to the invention, was that the positive charges on thesurface of LDH compounds make them ideal sorbents with respect toremoving a wide range of biological agents, which as a whole or asregions, present negative charge. Although biological agents, such asbacteria, viruses and fingi, may also present some localized positivecharges at specific pH values, LDH compounds, organo-LDH compounds,lignin-LDH compositions and even surfactant modified LDH in accordancewith the invention are capable of sorption of such bacteria and virusesto capture, to collect, to retain, to sequester, to inactivate, or toremove, them from aqueous liquids or aqueous process systems.

In other embodiments, a percentage biological agent reduction amount maybe removed from a fluid. While any percentage of removal is possible,such possibilities may include:

-   -   about 70% biological agent reduction;    -   about 75% biological agent reduction;    -   about 80% biological agent reduction;    -   about 85% biological agent reduction;    -   about 90% biological agent reduction;    -   about 95% biological agent reduction; and    -   about 100% biological agent reduction.        Other percentage removals are certainly possible and all should        be understood as represented within the scope of this invention.

The biological agent removal may be dependent on the contamination type,concentration, LDH type, competition anions and solution pH, among otherfactors. At a low anion concentration, the reduction rate may be about100%. At a high concentration, the refunction rate may be about 60%.Accordingly, such removal rates may vary.

In other embodiments, a percentage cationic contaminant reduction amountmay be removed from a fluid. While any percentage of removal ispossible, such possibilities may include:

-   -   about 80% cationic contaminant reduction;    -   about 85% cationic contaminant reduction;    -   about 90% cationic contaminant reduction; and    -   about 95% cationic contaminant reduction.        Other percentage removals are certainly possible and all should        be understood as represented within the scope of this invention.

As a non-limiting example, certain LDH compounds in accordance with theinvention can be used to retain, sequester, or remove, MS2 (an indicatorbacterial phage) virus, Phi-X 174, Escherichia coli strains (anindicator bacterium) or Pseudomonas arugenosa from deionised water, tapwater, or ground water having a pH range of 6.3-7.5, a residence time of0 min to 3.0 hr, and temperature at 4-30° C. Viral adsorption efficiencyof LDH compounds in such aqueous systems can be 100% and 99.9% at viralconcentrations of 2×10⁶ plaque forming unit (PFU)/L and 2×10⁸ PFU/L,respectively. The loading ratio in the case of MS2 adsorption isapproximately 1.5×10¹¹ to 8.0×10¹² PFU/kg of LDHs. Bacterial adsorptionefficiency can be 99.9% at an E. coli concentration of 3.7×10⁸ colonyforming unit (CFU)/L. The loading ratio in E. Coli adsorption can beapproximately 2.2×10¹¹ CFU/kg of LDHs.

As another non-limiting example, certain LDH compounds in accordancewith the invention can be used to retain, sequester, or remove generalbacteria from tap water and raw river and creek water having a pH rangeof 7.0-8.5, a residence time of 15 min to 45 min, and temperature at20-30° C. Bacterial adsorption efficiency of LDH compounds in suchaqueous systems can be 75-100% at background bacterial concentrations of5×10⁵−2×10⁷ CFU/ml.

In embodiments, LDH and even lignin can be packed or coated to carriermaterials to make water filtration units. The filtered water, under thisdesign, may be drinkable or potable. This type of apparatuses may bemade as disposable tubes, pumps, columns, and other tools to producedrinkable water in the field where no potable water may be available.

In other embodiments, LDHs and even lignin can be packed into a unitthat connects to a tap water faucet directly or even through an adaptor.The filtered water may be free or very low in metals and potentialpathogenic agents.

In an embodiment, LDHs or even lignin may be used in a large scalecolumn or vessel filter, which can be added to conventional drinkingwater or wastewater treatment process as a polishing step fordisinfection.

In an embodiment, LDH can be coated to a membrane surface and used toconcentrate bio-agents, such as viruses, bacteria, and other biologicalmolecules. The collected LDH-bioagents may serve as samples fordetection, identification, characterization and other applications. TheLDH containing collector may highly concentrate bioagents present inwater bodies; therefore it may increase the sensitivity of earlydetection of bioagents in waters.

In embodiments, LDH and even lignin can be used as air filters thatpossess high affinity to potential pathogens in the air. The filters canbe used for both residential and commercial buildings.

In embodiments, the present invention may include a water treatmentapparatus. A water treatment apparatus may include any type of device orapparatus or system that can be used to remove impurities from water.This may include, but is not limited to batch process containers, flowthrough containers, coated sand columns, columns, bags, tubes, coatingsupport, and filters. The present invention may include establishing anamount of water desired to be filtered. LDH, lignin, organiccomposition, individually or in any combination may be contained in awater treatment apparatus or even on a water filter. As previouslydiscussed, different types of impurities may be attracted and evensorbed onto a water filter having various sorbents.

A water treatment apparatus may be attached to any type of plumbingsystem and may even be attached to a water outlet attachment. In otherembodiments, the present invention may include attaching a watertreatment apparatus to any type of plumbing such as a water inlet,outlet fixture, or the like. After attachment, the present invention mayinclude running water through the water treatment apparatus to removeany impurities or contaminants that may be in the water. A water outletattachment may include any type of attachment configured to attach to aconduit, a sink faucet, outdoor conduit, and the like. Water treatmentapparatus may be used to treat different quantities of water. Some watertreatment apparatus may include a high volume water filter in whichlarge amounts of water may be treated. This may be useful for municipalapplications.

In some embodiments, the water treatment apparatus may be portably usedfor any type of water use perhaps even outdoor use. In otherembodiments, the present invention may include a disposablesemipermeable unit (27) as shown in FIG. 9. A disposable semipermeableunit (27) may be a container of thin paper or cloth which may contain ameasured amount of sorbents. A disposable semipermeable unit may beplaced in an amount of water (22), may be placed in a water container(46), and may even be in an amount of water sufficient for individualuse. A disposable semipermeable unit may be a capsule or pouch, or anytype of containment structure that may allow water to flow into and outof the disposable semipermeable unit while containing sorbents inside. Adisposable semipermeable unit (27) may be manually handled during use.Manually handling may include a user holding the unit or even holding astring attached to a unit, stirring water with a disposablesemipermeable unit, and the like. The disposable semipermeable unit maycontain an anionic component, cationic components, IDH composition,lignin, organic compositions, and the like sorbents, individually oreven in combination, as discussed previously.

In embodiments, the present invention may include removing impuritieswith re-activated cationic composition or even re-activated LDH. In anembodiment, the present invention provides for a reactivation element(51). Once an cationic composition or even LDH has sorbed anioniccontaminants, such as bioagents, they can be calcinated (e.g., heated)to convert the LDH compound retaining such collected biological agentsback to the original structural configuration which can then again beused to collect bio-agents. This makes LDH compounds in accordance withthe invention ideal candidates for industrial applications. LDHcompounds, along with the sorbed biological agents, can be incineratedat between about 400° C. to about 450° C. for a duration of betweenabout one hour to about three hours depending on the LDH compound (twohours typically being sufficient) to affect complete decomposition ofretained organic materials, including bio-agents, and convert thestructural configuration of the used LDH compound to the activatedstructural configuration capable again of attracting, collecting,retaining, or otherwise having an affinity for biological agents ororganic compounds. The impurity, contaminant, and even biological agentthat was sorbed on LDH may be removed by this process. After removal ofthe impurities, LDH may be rehydrated and used to sorb other impurities.The ability to regenerate, reactivate, or restore used LDH compoundsallows LDH compositions and even organo and LDH compounds, in accordancewith the invention, to be repeatedly regenerated and used over and overto attract or collect bio-agents or organic compounds.

After LDH compounds are used to collect bio-agents, they can bedissolved in acid solution and the collected bio-agents can beinactivated in acid solution. Then the LDH compounds can beresynthesized by coprecipitation of an acid solution with base, forexample, sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. The ability toregenerate, reactivate, or restore used LDH compounds allows LDHcompounds, in accordance with the invention, to be repeatedlyregenerated and used over and over to attract or collectbio-agents ororganic compounds.

In other embodiments the present invention may include detecting anyimpurities that may have been sorbed on a sorbent, identifying animpurity or even a biological agent. A biological agent identificationelement (52) may include some type of sensor that may respond in somefashion when biological agents may be detected.

In an embodiment, the present invention may provide moving at least someof a fluid through a primary medium or even a primary filter. A primaryfilter (45) may be any kind of filter that is known in the art or evenas discussed in this application that can be included in addition to amedium or filter as discussed above. Here, one could simply add a filteras discussed in this invention to a previous existing filtration system.The primary filter may be used as a first filtration system and mayprevent at least some of certain impurities, contaminants, components,such as but not limited to dust, dirt, and the like from moving throughsaid primary filter. Then the fluid can pass through an unpoweredcharged sorbent medium, such as an LDH filter, a lignin filter, or evena combination of the two. This may provide extended use of suchunpowered charged sorbent medium. It may be desirable to replace theprimary filter more often than the LDH filter, as an example.

In other embodiments, the present invention may include providing an airfilter. A filter (43) may be represented in FIG. 11. An air filter mayinclude any type of substance in which air may be permeable. An airfilter may include but is not limited to, a membrane, filter, batchprocess containers, flow through containers, columns, tubes, coatingsupport, carrier materials, masks, particles and the like. Air filtersmay have a flat surface or may even have a pleated surface to add to thesurface area to the filter. LDH, lignin, organic composition, or thelike, individually, separately or in any combination may be applied toan air filter. This may include spraying LDH, lignin, or even organiccomposition on paper, coating a filter with LDH, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 11, a fluid (40) may move in a flow direction (36)through a filter (43). A filter may be any type of filter including, butnot limited to a water or air filter. A filter (43) may include cationiccompositions (12) and may even include anionic components (13). Afterpassing through a filter (43), a fluid may have a reduction (42) ofcontaminants. A circulation element (50) may be included to circulate afluid. Further, an identification element (52) may be included which maydetect and even identify contaminants, anionic contaminants, and evenbiological agents. A reactivation element (51) may be included which maybe used to re-activate or even recycle an anionic composition, perhapseven a LDH composition.

In embodiments, the present invention may include electrostaticallysorbing contaminants. This may include creating any type of medium withelectric charges or even currents in which impurities or contaminantsmay be sorbed.

The present invention may include establishing respiratory air in aconfined community gathering location. Air or even respiratory air mayinclude air that is intended or may be breathed by an animal or humanbeing. A confined community gathering location may include any locationin which a few or even several people may meet and which contaminantsmay exist in the air. This may include a building, school, home, and thelike. An air filter may include LDH so that when air may be moved nearor through the air filter, anionic contaminants may be attracted and mayeven be sorbed to the LDH, as discussed above. The air may be moved andcirculated in a confined community gathering location with a reductionin anionic contaminants, for example, bioagents. As such, the presentinvention may provide for circulating purified air in an aircraft,commercial building, residential structure, vehicle or the like.Further, in embodiments, an air filter may contain lignin which mayattract and sorb cationic contaminants, also discussed previously. Airfilters may be used in a number of different applications. For example,but not limited to, an air filter may be configured for an airplane,commercial building, a residential structure, a vehicle, and the like.

An individual may be contaminated with a communicable illness, such asthe flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), or the like. Thatindividual may want to prevent others from catching the illness, or evenan individual may desire to protect themselves from breathing incontaminants. In embodiments, the present invention may provide for awearable mask (37) having an amount of LDH composition on it. In FIG. 8,a representation of a mask (37) is shown. A mask may include a cloth oreven a paper material that may have a LDH layer (14). The air flow mayinclude the air one inhales or the air the one exhales. As the air flowmay move in an air flow direction (36) through a mask, bioagents (7), asshown in FIG. 8 may be sorbed onto LDH. Of course, any contaminant maybe sorbed onto a wearable mask such as but not limited to anioniccontaminants, cationic contaminants, and even non-ionic organiccontaminants. In embodiments, a wearable mask may include individually,or in combination, anionic components, cationic components, organiccomponents, LDH composition, and even lignin. In embodiments, a wearablerespirable mask may be a disposable mask. A mask may be any type ofmask, as know to those skilled in the art and may be placed on at leastpart of a face that may allow the passage of air and moisture. Thepresent invention may provide covering at least a nose and mouth toensure all or most of the air either exhaled or inhaled may be filtered.The mask may be attached to at least part of a head. This may include,but is not limited to, attaching strings or the like around the ears,providing an elastic band that goes around a circumference of a head,and it may even include providing strings that can be tied togetheraround the head. In embodiments, the wearable respirable mask may beremovably sealingly attached to a user's face. To ensure that most ofthe air may be filtered, some sort of seal may be desirable where themask and the face contact. This may simply be a tight securement of themask to the head and may even have some sort of elastic edge to themask. It may be desirable to remove and possibly reattach the mask. Auser may then respire or flow air through the mask. As a user isinhaling, the outside air may be passed through the mask, allowing anycontaminants, and even bioagents to be attracted and sorbed onto LDH.Contrarily, a user may exhale air and any bioagents contained in theexhaled air may be attracted and sorbed onto the LDH. In embodiments, awearable mask (37) may include a primary filter (45), as discussedabove.

After using a wearable mask, the mask may have biological agentssubstantially sorbed on the surface of the LDH composition, as discussedabove. In other embodiments, the wearable respirable mask may includeproviding lignin on a mask and the mask may even include other organiccompositions. The wearable mask may include individually or incombination lignin, LDH or an organic compositions for the removal ofcationic contaminants, anionic contaminants and non-ionic organiccontaminants. As discussed above the lignin may be layered on the maskwith LDH or may even be chemically associated with LDH. Any or even allof the sorbents may be sprayed on paper. Of course, any way to attachthe sorbents to some sort of filter is meant to be included in thisdisclosure.

In embodiments, the present invention may provide attracting a firstcomponent to a vehicle air filter. In embodiments, an air filter mayinclude a vehicle air filter in which a LDH composition may be providedon an air filter. In other embodiments, an air filter used in a vehiclemay contain, but is not limited to a cationic composition, an anioniccomposition, LDH, lignin, organic compositions, individually or in anycombination. A vehicle air filter may be placed in a vehicle possiblynear the air vents, or at any place in the car. A vehicle air filter mayeven include a mechanical device which may be plugged into a cigarettelighter for power. A vehicle may have an enclosed space in which air maybe established in the vehicle. Of course, a window or door may be openedin which air flow from the outside may occur. The air in a vehicle oreven respiratory air in a vehicle may interact with a vehicle airfilter. Any contaminants may be attracted and sorbed on the vehicle airfilter. Of course, such contaminants may include anionic contaminants,cationic contaminants, biological agents, and even non-ioniccontaminants, as previously discussed. The air can be circulated in thevehicle with a reduction in contaminants and even a reduction inbioagents. Occupants of a vehicle may release contaminants when sneezingor coughing, or even simply breathing creating air which may need to bere-filtered and then re-circulated. In other embodiments, the vehicleair filter may include lignin and may even include other organiccompositions to remove anionic contaminants and non-ionic organiccontaminants.

The present invention can be used in a wide variety of applications. Forexample, using an unpowered charged sorbent medium, LDH composition,lignin composition and even organic compositions for commercial use,residential use, personal use, and the like.

EXAMPLE I

Virus stocks were diluted in artificial groundwater (CaCl₂ 0.075 mM,MgCl₂ 0.082 mM, KCl 0.051 mM and NaHCO₃ 1.5 mM) having pH 7.5. A 5 mlaliquot of LDH stock solution (ultrasonically dispersed) was transferredto sterilized 25 ml Screw-top Corex glass centrifuge tubes. To avoidgeneration of an air-water interface (AWI), 25 ml of virus solutionswere transferred into such tubes to form a meniscus at the tube openingand capped. Tubes containing the mixture of LDH solution and virussolution were mixed in an end-over-end shaker at 20 rpm for 3 hr atbetween 4-7° C. and then centrifuged at 9,000 g for 15 min. Virusconcentration in LDH suspensions was determined by plaque assay. Allexperiments were conducted with three replicates and using controlblanks.

EXAMPLE II

LDH-coated sand was generated by transferring 1000 g oxide-removed sandto a plastic beaker and 2 L 5% LDH solution was added. The mixture wasautoclaved for 1 hr and oven dried at 80° C. with occasionally stirring.The LDH-coated sand was then washed extensively with distilled water toremove unbound LDH and oven-dried. Acrylate columns having top andbottom plates sealed with O-rings were fitted with a stainless steelscreen on the bottom plate. LDH-coated sand was transferred in 1-cmincrements into the column prefilled with deaerated water and stirred toprevent layering and air entrapment. Around 100 pore volumes (PV) ofbuffer solution (AGW) are pumped into the sealed columns with aperistaltic pump to establish a steady-state flow condition. Virussolutions were pumped into separate corresponding columns and outflowsamples were collected in 4 ml glass tubes using a fraction collector.The concentrations of viruses in the various samples were determined byplaque assay.

EXAMPLE III

Sand LDH-lignin columns were prepared and equilibrated as described inExample II. Bacteria solutions were pumped into separate columnsprepared and outflow samples were collected in 4 ml glass tubes using afraction collector. The concentrations of bacteria in the varioussamples were determined by plaque assay.

EXAMPLE IV

Sand LDH-lignin columns were prepared and equilibrated as described inExample II and III. Mixtures of virus and bacteria solutions were pumpedinto separate columns prepared and outflow samples were collected in 4ml glass tubes using a fraction collector. The concentrations ofbacteria in the various samples were determined by plaque assay.

EXAMPLE V

LDH was made in granular form with particle sizes (e.g., 0.3 mm-3 mmdiameter) that facilitate reasonable water flow rate. One to five gramsof LDH was packed into a 10 ml syringe sized column with glass wool atthe outflow port. Bacteria/virus containing water flow into the columnand the effluent concentrations were determined by colony/plaque assay.Approximately 200 mls of raw river water (98200 CFU/ml bacteria or1.8×10⁷ total bacteria) may be filtered with 5 g of LDH material.Effluent water from such a filtration system may be potable withsufficient removal of bioagents. An expanded example of this applicationis to increase the amount of LDH and column size proportionally to treatlarger quantity of raw or partially treated bacteria/virus containingwater.

EXAMPLE VI

LDH was made in granular form with particle sizes (e.g., 0.3 mm-3 mmdiameter) that facilitate reasonable water flow rate. LDH was packedinto a sizable column with glass wool at the outflow port. The columnmay be attached to a pump. Bacteria/virus containing water flew into thecolumn and the effluent concentrations were determined by colony/plaqueassay. Approximately 200 mls of raw water (98200 CFU/ml bacteria or1.8×10⁷ total bacteria) may be filtered with 5 g of LDH column. Effluentwater from such a filtration system may be potable with sufficientremoval of bioagents. The sizes of the column and pump are flexiblebased on the amount and quality of water to be filtered. Such a systemmay be used for military personnel, field travelers, small municipality,rural farms, etc.

EXAMPLE VII

LDH was made in granular form with particle sizes (e.g., 0.3 mm-3 mmdiameter) that prevents its leakage from a porous wrap such as doublelayered cheese cloth. Five grams of LDH was packed into a doubledlayered cheese cloth and put into a cup of 200 ml of raw river water(8200 CFU/ml bacteria or 1.8×10⁷ total bacteria). The bagged LDH wasplaced in the water for 30 min with or without stirring. Treated waterfrom such a system may be potable with sufficient removal of bioagents.An expanded example of this application is to increase the amount of LDHmaterial proportionally to treat larger quantity of raw or partiallytreated bacteria/virus containing water.

EXAMPLE VIII

LDH was made in powder or granular form and packed in a treatment tank,vessel or similar containers. Amount of LDH is determined based on thequality of the water to be treated. This system may be added to anexisting water treatment process as a bioagent removal step.Applications include residential and industrial water treatmentfacilities.

EXAMPLE IX

Air-filter devices were prepared using acrylate columns as described inExample II. Air or other partial pressures of gases are passed through aliquid solution to collect the bacteria or virus, or both, in the volumeof gases. The liquid solutions were then pumped into separate columnsprepared and outflow samples were collected in 4 ml glass tubes using afraction collector. The concentrations of bacteria in the varioussamples were determined by plaque assay. Control blanks were run in asubstantially identical fashion to provide a baseline for comparison.

EXAMPLE X

Gas filter devices can be prepared using a carrier material such asceramic or fabric material. LDH compounds can be used to coat a varietyof carrier materials with an amount of LDH compound sufficient to affordnano-structural exclusion or electrostatic sorption of biological agentspresent in ambient air. Air flow through the gas filter devices can befacilitated with pressure differential generation devices such as pumpsor fans. Air or other partial pressure of gases are passed through thegas filter device to collect the bacteria or virus, or both, in thevolume of gases. The concentrations of bacteria in various samples canbe determined by plaque assay. Control blanks can be run insubstantially identical fashion to provide a baseline for comparison.The LDH coated fabrics and particles can be used in one embodiment as anadditional filter layer in a respirator canister or in household airpurifiers, or the like.

EXAMPLE XI

The data gathered may show that LDH in a bag can sorb bacteria such asPseudomonas aeruginosa and extrapolately other bacteria in water samples(see Tables I-V). In most of the tests, the LDH bag (ranging from 1 g ofLDH to 4 g) removed 90 percent of bacteria from the 500 mL bottle ofwater (250 mL in Table I) in 30 min or less (see Tables I-V excludingIV, the Zn—Al LDH).

Make LDH bags by sewing a 5×10 cm piece of cloth with fishing wire witha measured amount of LDH inside (size 2.36-4.75 mm). When finished,autoclave the bags at 122 degrees C. for 15 min to sterilize. Preparedilution test tubes by putting 9 mL of sterile tap water in each one.Centrifuge the bacterial TSB solution for 15 min at 3400 rpm, decant thebroth, add sterile water in its place. Dilute the bacterial solutionwith 1/10 dilutions until desired concentration is obtained. (For thiscase, 500 mL of 10ˆ2 CFU/mL is desired for each bottle so take 5 mL of10ˆ4 solution in 495 mL of sterile tap water). Take reference samples ofthe solutions in each of the 500 mL bottles before the LDH bag is added.Plate 100 uL of each bottle (usually do triplicates) onto TSA petridishes. Place the LDH bags inside of the bottles and start timing.Collect and plate 100 uL of each at desired times. Dip a glass spreaderinto alcohol, flame, let cool, and use to spread the 100 uL solution oneach of the TSA petri dishes. Seal with parafilm, set aside until laterto put in an incubator overnight at 35 degrees C. Count the colonies inthe morning.

As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts ofthe present invention may be embodied in a variety of ways. It involvesboth water and air purification techniques as well as devices toaccomplish the appropriate filter. In this application, the water andair purification techniques are disclosed as part of the results shownto be achieved by the various devices described and as steps which areinherent to utilization. They are simply the natural result of utilizingthe devices as intended and described. In addition, while some devicesare disclosed, it should be understood that these not only accomplishcertain methods but also can be varied in a number of ways. Importantly,as to all of the foregoing, all of these facets should be understood tobe encompassed by this disclosure.

The discussion included in this application is intended to serve as abasic description. The reader should be aware that the specificdiscussion may not explicitly describe all embodiments possible; manyalternatives are implicit. It also may not fully explain the genericnature of the invention and may not explicitly show how each feature orelement can actually be representative of a broader function or of agreat variety of alternative or equivalent elements. Again, these areimplicitly included in this disclosure. Where the invention is describedin device-oriented terminology, each element of the device implicitlyperforms a function. Apparatus claims may not only be included for thedevice described, but also method or process claims may be included toaddress the functions the invention and each element performs. Neitherthe description nor the terminology is intended to limit the scope ofthe claims.

It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be madewithout departing from the essence of the invention. Such changes arealso implicitly included in the description. They still fall within thescope of this invention. A broad disclosure encompassing both theexplicit embodiment(s) shown, the great variety of implicit alternativeembodiments, and the broad methods or processes and the like areencompassed by this disclosure. This application seeks examination of asbroad a base of claims as deemed within the applicant's right and willbe designed to yield a patent covering numerous aspects of the inventionboth independently and as an overall system.

Further, each of the various elements of the invention and claims mayalso be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should beunderstood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of anembodiment of any apparatus embodiment, a method or process embodiment,or even merely a variation of any element of these. Particularly, itshould be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of theinvention, the words for each element may be expressed by equivalentapparatus terms or method terms—even if only the function or result isthe same. Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should beconsidered to be encompassed in the description of each element oraction. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit theimplicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As butone example, it should be understood that all actions may be expressedas a means for taking that action or as an element which causes thataction. Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understoodto encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical elementfacilitates. Regarding this last aspect, as but one example, thedisclosure of a “sorbent” should be understood to encompass disclosureof the act of “sorbing”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and,conversely, were there effectively disclosure of the act of “sorbing”,such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a“sorbent” and even a “means for sorbing” Such changes and alternativeterms are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.

U.S. Patent Documents DOCUMENT NO DATE NAME CLASS SUBCLASS FILING DATE4,511,710 Apr. 16, 1985 Wang et al 528 485 Jun. 11, 1984 5,079,203 Jan.07, 1992 Pinnavaia et al. 502 84 May 25, 1990 5,114,898 May 19, 1992Pinnavaia et al. 502 406 Sep. 28, 1990 5.116.587 May 26, 1992 Pinnavaiaet al. 423 244 Jan. 18, 1990 5,358,701 Oct. 25, 1994 Pinnavaia et al.423 242.1 Nov. 16, 1992 5,539,135 Jul. 23, 1996 Breuer et al. 554 167Apr. 04, 1991 5,765,556 Jun. 16, 1998 Brunson 128 206.19 Jul. 17, 19956,055,982 May 02, 2000 Brunson et al. 128 206.12 Dec. 18, 1997 6,329,515Dec. 11, 2001 Choy et al. 536 23.1 Sep. 10, 1999 6,365,661 Apr. 02, 2002Fischer et al. 524 445 Jan. 09, 1998 6,372,837 Apr. 16, 2002 Fischer etal. 524 445 Jan. 09, 1998 6,656,382 Dec. 02, 2003 Kuhlmann et al. 252184 Oct. 02, 1998

Foreign Patent Documents DOCUMENT NO DATE COUNTRY CLASS SUBCLASS JP2000086694 28 Mar. 2000 Japan C07h 21/04 WO 00/09599 24 Feb. 2000 PCTC08K  3/22, Application  7/22, 9/04 WO 92/17405 15 Oct. 1992 PCT CO1F 7/00 Application WO 99/17879 15 Apr. 1999 PCT B01J 41/00 Application

Other Documents (Including Author, Title, Date, Pertinent Pages, Etc.)Brindley, G. W. and S. Kikkawa. 1980. Thermal-behavior of hydrotalciteand of anion-exchanged forms of hydrotalcite. Clays Clay Miner. 28:87-91. Cavani, F., F. Trifiro and A. Vaccari. 1991. Hydrotalcite-typeanionic clay: Preparation, properties and application. Catal. Today. 11:73-301. Cervilla, A., E. Llopis, A. Ribera, A. Corma, V. Fornes and F.Rey. 1994. Intercalation of the oxo- transfer molybdenum (VI) complex[MoO₂{O₂CC(S)Ph₂}₂]²⁻ into a zinc(II)-aluminium(III) layered doublehydroxide host Catalysis of the air oxidation of thiols. J. Chem. Soc.Dalton. Trans. 20: 2953-2957. Chibwe, M. and T. J. Pinnavaia. 1993.Stabilization of cobalt(II) phthalocyanine oxidation catalyst byintercalation in a layered double hydroxide host. J. Chem. Soc. Commun.278-280. Constantino, V. R. L. and T. J. Pinnavaia. 1995. Basicproperties of Mg²⁺ _(1−x)Al³⁺ _(x) layered double hydroxidesintercalated by carbonate, hydroxide, chloride, and sulfate anions.Inorg. Chem. 34: 883-892. Gerba, C. P. and J. B. Rose. 1990. Viruses insource and drinking water. P. 380-396. In: G. A. McFeters (ed.),Drinking water microbiology. Spinger, NY. Goswamee, R. L., P. Sengupta,K. G. Bhattacharyya and D. K. Dutta. 1998. Adsorption of Cr(VI) inlayered double hydroxides. Appl Clay Sci. 13: 21-34. Hermosin M. C., I.Pavlovic, M. A. Ulibarri and J. Cornejo. 1993. Trichlorophenoladsorption on layered double hydroxide: a potential sorbent. J. Envir.Sci. Health A28: 1875-1888. Itaya, K., H. C. Chang and I. Uchida. 1987.Anion-exchange hydrotalcite-like-clay-modified electrodes. Inorg. Chem.26: 624-626. Kang M. J., K. S. Chun, S. W. Rhee and Y. Do. 1999.Comparison of sorption behavior of I⁻ and TcO₄ ⁻ on Mg/Al layered doublehydroxide. Radiochim. Acta. 85: 57-63. Kang, M. J., S. W. Rhee and H.Moon. 1996. Sorption of MO₄ ⁻(M = Tc, Re) on Mg/Al layered doublehydroxide by anion exchange. Radiochimica Acta. 75: 169-173. Lal, M. andHowe, A. T., “Studies of zinc-chromium hydroxy salts. II. Compositeanion conductors of pressed disks of [Zn₂Cr(OH)₆]X. nH₂O, Where X⁻ = F⁻,Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, NO₃ ⁻, and ½CO₃ ²⁻.”, J. Solid State Chem (1983) Martin,K. J. and T. J. Pinnavaia. 1986. Layered double hydroxide as supperanionic reagent. Halide ion reactivity in [Zn₂Cr(OH)₆]X. nH₂O. J. Am.Chem. Soc. 108: 541-542. Miyata, S., 1975. The sytheses ofhydrotalcite-like compounds and their structures and physico- chemicalproperties - I: The system Mg²⁺—Al³⁺—NO₃ ⁻, Mg²⁺—Al³⁺—Cl⁻,Mg²⁺—Al³⁺—ClO₄ ⁻, Ni²⁺—Al³⁺—Cl⁻, and Zn²⁺—Al³⁺—Cl⁻. Clays Clay Miner.23: 369-375. Miyata, S., 1980. Physico-chemical properties of synthetichydrotalcites in relation to composition. Clays Clay Miner. 28: 50-55.Miyata. S., 1983. Anion-exchange properties of hydrotacite-likecompounds. Clays Clay Miner. 31: 305-311. Park, Y., K. Kuroda and C.Kato. 1990. Direct synthesis of intercalation compounds between alayered double hydroxide and an anionic due. J. Chem. Soc. Dalton Trans.10: 3071-3074. Rhee, S. W., M. J. Kang, H. Kim and C. H. Moon. 1997.Removal of aquatic chromate ion involving rehydration reaction ofcalcined layered double hydroxide (Mg—Al—CO₃). Environ. Tech. 18:231-236. Schmidt, P. C. and K. Beneke. 1988. Untersuchungen zuradsorption und stabilität von konservierungsstoffen inantacidasuspensionen. 2. Mitteilung: Reaktionskinetischestabilitätsuntersuchungen. Pharm. Ada. Helv. 63: 188-196. Suzuki, E., M.Okamoto and Y. Ono. 1989. Catalysis by interlayer anions of a synthetichydrotalcite- like mineral in a halide exchange between organic halides.1485-1486. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. National PrimaryDrinking Water Regulations: Ground Water Rule; Proposed Rules. 40 CFRParts 141 and 142, 30194-30274, 2000. You, Y. W., H. T. Zhao and G. F.Vance. 2002a. Hybrid organic-inorganic derivatives of layered doublehydroxides and dodecylbenzenesulfonate: Preparation and sorptioncharacteristics. J. Mater. Chem. 12: 907-912 You, Y. W., H. T. Zhao andG. F. Vance. 2002b. Surfactant-enhanced adsorption of organic compoundsby layered double hydroxides. Colloids Surface A. 205: 161-172. You, Y.W., H. T. Zhao and G. F. Vance. 2002c. Adsorption of dicamba (3,6dichloro-2-methoxy benzoic acid) in aqueous solution by calcined-layereddouble hydroxide. Applied Clay Science. 21: 217-226. You, Y. W., G. F.Vance and H. T. Zhao. 2001a. Selenium adsorption on Mg—Al and Zn—Allayered double hydroxides. Appl. Clay. Sci. 20: 13-25. You, Y. W., H. T.Zhao and G. F. Vance. 2001b. Removal of arsenite from aqueous solutionby anionic clays. Environmental Technology. 22: 1447-1457. United StatesProvisional Application No. 60/443, 548, filed Jan. 28, 2003

All patents, publications, or other references mentioned in thisapplication for patent or listed in the above listing are herebyincorporated by reference. In addition, as to each term used it shouldbe understood that unless its utilization in this application isinconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitionsshould be understood as incorporated for each term and all definitions,alternative terms, and synonyms such as contained in the Random HouseWebster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition are hereby incorporatedby reference. Finally, as to all references listed or specificallymentioned, each is hereby appended and hereby incorporated by reference,however, as to each of the above, to the extent that such information orstatements incorporated by reference might be considered inconsistentwith the patenting of this/these invention(s) such statements areexpressly not to be considered as made by the applicant(s).

Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to claim at least: i) eachof the LDH, lignan-LDH or modified LDH compositions as herein disclosedand described, ii) the related utilities, processes, or methodsdisclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicitvariations of each of these devices and methods, iv) those alternativedesigns which accomplish each of the functions shown as are disclosedand described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplisheach of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which isdisclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown asseparate and independent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced bythe various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resultingproducts produced by such systems or components, and ix) methods andapparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with referenceto any of the accompanying examples, x) the various combinations andpermutations of each of the elements disclosed, and xi) each potentiallydependent claim or concept as a dependency on each and every one of theindependent claims or concepts presented.

Column Filtration of Bacteria and Viruses Starting Final Conc. Conc.Sorbed Sample (cfu/ml, (cfu/ml, virus No. LDH Organism pfu/ml) puf/ml)or E. coli 1 Mg—Al Phix-174 2575 419 83.73% 2 Zn—Al Phix-174 2575 6397.55% 3 Mg—Al MS2 4230 0 100.00% 4 Zn—Al MS2 4230 128 96.97% 5 Mg—Al E.coil (ATCC13760) 1235 0 100.00% 6 Zn—Al E. coil (ATCC13760) 1235 14088.66% 7 Mg—Al E. coil (ATCC 15597) 429 0 100.00% 8 Zn—Al E. coil (ATCC15597) 429 0 100.00%Experiment Conditions:

-   Temperature: 20° C.-   Background solution: Artifical Ground Water (CaCl₂ 0.075 mM, MgCl₂    0.082 mM, KCl 0.051 mM and NaHCO₃ 1.5 mM)-   pH: 7.5

Sorption time: instaneously flow through

Percent sorbance Time still (series 1, shake (series 2, (min) 590CFU/mL) 280 CFU/mL) 1 35 28 5 64 0 10 84 82 15 96 75 20 91 89 30 100 9640 100 100 50 88 92

Mg-AL LDH Sorption of Bacteria and Virus in Suspended Solutions InitialAve. of conc. stock Concentration Conc. solution replicate DilutionCount (pfu/ml) (pfu/ml) Phix-174 1 2 66 6600 5925 2 2 63 6300 3 2 525200 4 2 56 5600 MS2 1 2 92 9200 9100 2 2 87 8700 3 2 95 9500 4 2 909000 E. coli 1 5 107 10700000 16300000 (ATCC 2 5 161 16100000 13706) 3 5196 19600000 4 5 188 18800000 E. coli 1 5 236 23600000 26225000 (ATCC 25 260 26000000 15597) 3 5 266 26600000 4 5 287 28700000

Solution LDH Ave. of Mass of LDH Volume conc. Plate Final Conc Sorbedvirus Sorbed virus Adsorp sorbed Replicates (ml) (ppm) Dilutions Count(pfu/ml) or E. coli (pfu) or E. coli (pfu) Efficiency (pfu/kg) 1 29 4310 77 77 169592 169954.5 98.91% 13597447.8 0 61 61 170056 2 29 431 0 4949 170404 0 71 71 169766 1 29 431 0 1 1 171796 171781.5 99.97%13743619.5 0 2 2 171767 2 29 431 0 1 1 171796 0 2 2 171767 1 29 431 0 1515 263465 263363.5 99.80% 21070765.7 0 22 22 263262 2 29 431 0 11 11263581 0 26 26 263146 1 29 431 0 14 14 263494 263631.75 99.90%21092227.4 0 9 9 263639 2 29 431 0 8 8 263668 0 6 6 263726 1 25 500 3191 191000 395225000 395956250 99.01% 2.7307E+10 3 199 199000 3950250002 25 500 3 84 84000 397900000 3 173 173000 395675000 1 25 500 3 160160000 396000000 396093750 99.04% 2.7317E+10 3 149 149000 396275000 2 25500 3 148 148000 396300000 3 168 168000 395800000 1 25 500 3 478 478000638050000 641650000 98.73% 4.4252E+10 3 452 452000 638700000 2 25 500 3224 224000 644400000 3 182 182000 645450000 1 25 500 3 134 134000646650000 646343750 99.44% 4.4575E+10 3 149 149000 646275000 2 25 500 3146 146000 646350000 3 156 156000 646100000

5 × 10 cm LDH bag, 5 g, starting bacterial solution: 94000 CFU/mL 10 gMg—Al (2:1) LDH for 5 g 09/19/2003 counterd, 9/20/03 82000 CFU/mL for 10g 200 mL Laramie River water 10 g CFUs (5 g) smear, ref smear, 93, 9579, 85 30 374 210 30 481 228 30 427 168 average CFU/MI 4273 2020

Percent sorbance Time (min) 5 g 10 g 30 95 97

TABLE I Mg—Al (2:1) LDH bag test (1 g LDH in 250 mL sterile tap waterwith Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Percent sorbance of bacteria still shake(original (original concentration concentration Time (min) 590 CFU/mL)280 CFU/mL) 1 35 28 5 64 0 10 84 82 15 96 75 20 91 89 30 100 96 40 100100

TABLE II Mg—Al (2:1) LDH bag test (1 g LDH in 500 mL sterile tap waterwith Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Percent sorbance of bacteria A (original B(original C (original concentration concentration concentration Time(min) 20 CFU/mL) 30 CFU/mL) 40 CFU/mL) 10 100 100 100 30 100 0 75 45 10033 100 60 100 100 100

TABLE III Mg—Al (2:1) LDH bag test (1 g, 2 g, 4 g LDH in 500 mL steriletap water with Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Percent sorbance 2 g (original 4g 1 g (original conc. conc. (original conc. Time (min) 1560+ CFU/mL)1060+ CFU/mL) 1890+ CFU/mL) 5 58 58 35 15 74 83 77 30 87 94 78

TABLE IV Zn—Al (2:1) LDH bag test (1 g, 2 g, 4 g LDH in 500 mL steriletap water with Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Percent sorbance 2 g (original 4g (original 1 g (original conc. conc. conc. Time (min) 2180+ CFU/mL)1780+ CFU/mL) 167+ CFU/mL) 5 0 0.56 0.59 15 0 57 24 30 42 81 0

TABLE V Mg—Al (2:1) LDH bag test (1.5 g LDH in 500 mL sterile tap waterwith Pseudomonas aeruginosa) starting bacterial conc. 96 CFU/mL Percentsorbance swirl every 6 min upside down, right side up Time (min) stillfor 30 sec every 6 min for 30 sec 30 100 100 100 30  93 100 100

1. A method of removing impurities comprising the steps of: establishingair; providing an unpowered charged sorbent medium; moving at least someof said air in the vicinity of said unpowered charged sorbent medium;attracting a biological agent to said unpowered charged sorbent medium;sorbing at least some of said biological agent on the surface of saidunpowered charged sorbent medium; and moving said air with at least somereduction of said biological agent.
 2. A method of removing impuritiesof claim 1 wherein said step of establishing air comprises the step ofestablishing respiratory air.
 3. A method of removing impurities ofclaim 1 wherein said step of providing said unpowered charged sorbentmedium comprises the step of providing a layered double hydroxidecomposition.
 4. A method of removing impurities of claim 3 wherein saidstep of providing said layered double hydroxide composition comprisesthe step of providing said layered double hydroxide compositionrepresented by the formula:[M^(II) _(1-x)M^(III) _(x)(OH)₂]^(z+)A^(n−) _(z/n) ·yH₂O, wherein M^(II)is a bivalent cation, M^(III) is a trivalent cation, and A^(n−) is ananion bound in an intermediate layer.
 5. A method of removing impuritiesof claim 1 wherein said step of moving at least some of said air in thevicinity of said unpowered charged sorbent medium comprises the step ofmechanically moving at least some of said air in the vicinity of saidunpowered charged sorbent medium.
 6. A method of removing impurities ofclaim 1 wherein said step of moving at least some of said air in thevicinity of said unpowered charged sorbent medium comprises the step ofphysically moving at least some of said air in the vicinity of saidunpowered charged sorbent medium.
 7. A method of removing impurities ofclaim 1 and further comprising the steps of: containing an amount oflignin; moving at least some of said air in the vicinity of said lignin;attracting an cationic contaminant to said lignin; sorbing said cationiccontaminant on said lignin; and moving said air with at least somereduction of said cationic contaminant.
 8. A method of removingimpurities of claim 7 and further comprising the step of functionallysituating said unpowered charged sorbent medium with said lignin.
 9. Amethod of removing impurities of claim 8 wherein said step offunctionally situating said unpowered charged sorbent medium with saidlignin comprises the step of separately and distinctly situating saidunpowered charged sorbent medium from said lignin.
 10. A method ofremoving impurities of claim 8 wherein said step of functionallysituating said unpowered charged sorbent medium with said lignincomprises the step of layering said unpowered charged sorbent medium andsaid lignin.
 11. A method of removing impurities of claim 8 wherein saidstep of functionally situating said unpowered charged sorbent mediumwith said lignin comprises the step of chemically associating saidunpowered charged sorbent medium and said lignin.
 12. A method ofremoving impurities of claim 1 wherein said step of providing saidunpowered charged sorbent medium comprises the step of providing an airfilter.
 13. A method of removing impurities of claim 3 wherein said stepof providing a layered double hydroxide composition comprises the stepof spraying said layered double hydroxide composition on paper.
 14. Amethod of removing impurities of claim 7 wherein said step of containingan amount of lignin comprises the step of spraying said amount of saidlignin on paper. 15-87. (canceled)
 88. A method of removing impuritiescomprising the steps of: establishing air; containing an amount of acationic composition; moving at least some of said air in the vicinityof said cationic composition; attracting a first component to saidcationic composition; sorbing at least some of said first component onsaid cationic composition; containing an amount of an anioniccomposition; moving at least some of said air in the vicinity of saidanionic composition; attracting a second component to said anioniccomposition; sorbing at least some of said second component on saidanionic composition; and moving said air with at least some reduction ofsaid first and second components. 89-106. (canceled)
 107. A method asdescribed in claim 4 wherein said M^(II) is selected from the groupconsisting of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Mn^(2+.)
 108. Amethod as described in claim 4 wherein said M^(III) is selected from thegroup consisting of Al³⁺, Cr³⁺, Fe³⁺, Co³⁺ and Mn³⁺.
 109. A method asdescribed in claim 4 wherein said A^(n−) is selected from the groupconsisting of Cl⁻, NO₃ ⁻, ClO₄ ⁻, CO₃ ²⁻ and SO₄ ².
 110. A method asdescribed in claim 7 wherein said step of containing said lignincomprises the step of containing a lignin-dominated substance.
 111. Amethod as described in claim 1 wherein said biological agent is selectedfrom the group consisting of virus, bacteria, hormone, fungi, prions,proteins, nucleic acids, MS2 virus, Phi-X 174, Escherichia coli strainsand Pseudomonas arugenosa.
 112. A method as described in claim 7 whereinsaid cationic contaminant is selected from the group consisting of lead,chromium, zinc, mercury, ammonium, sodium, calcium, iron and copper.113. A method as described in claim 11 wherein said step of chemicallyassociating said layered double hydroxide composition with said lignincomprises the step of selecting a chemical association from the groupconsisting of ionic bonds, covalent bonds, tether molecule andhydrophobic interaction.
 114. A method as described in claim 1 whereinsaid step of moving said air comprises the step of removing a percentagebiological agent reduction amount selected from the group consisting of:about 85% biological agent reduction about 90% biological agentreduction; and about 95% biological agent reduction.
 115. (canceled)116. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said step of moving saidair comprises the step of removing harmful biological agents from saidair, said harmful biological agents selected from the group consistingof coronavirus, influenze, bacillus anthracis, measles, and smallpoxvirus.
 117. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said step of movingsaid air comprises the step removing a percentage cationic contaminantreduction amount selected from the group consisting of: about 80%cationic contaminant reduction; about 85% cationic contaminantreduction; about 90% cationic contaminant reduction; and about 95%cationic contaminant reduction.
 118. A method as described in claim 3and further comprising the step of removing said biological agent withreactivated layered double hydroxide composition.
 119. A method ofremoving impurities of claim 118 wherein said step of removing saidlayered double hydroxide composition comprises the steps of: calcinatingsaid layered double hydroxide composition; removing said biologicalagent from said layered double hydroxide composition; and rehydratingsaid calcinated layered double hydroxide composition.
 120. A method asdescribed in claim 1 and further comprising the steps of: detecting saidbiological agent sorbed on said layered double hydroxide composition;and identifying said biological agent.
 121. A method as described inclaim 1 and further comprising the steps of: containing an amount oforganic composition; moving said air in the vicinity of said organiccomposition; sorbing at least some of a non-ionic organic contaminant onsaid organic composition; and moving said air with at least somereduction of said non-ionic organic contaminant.
 122. A method asdescribed in claim 121 wherein said step of sorbing at least some ofsaid non-ionic organic contaminant comprises the step of selecting saidnon-ionic organic contaminant from the group consisting of benzene,ethybenzene, toluene, xylenes, aromatic compounds, perchloroethene,trichloroethene and dichloroethene.
 123. A method as described in claim121 or 122 wherein said step of sorbing at least some of said non-ionicorganic contaminant comprises the step of removing a percentagenon-ionic organic contaminant reduction amount selected from the groupconsisting of: about 70% non-ionic contaminant reduction; about 75%non-ionic contaminant reduction; about 80% non-ionic contaminantreduction; about 85% non-ionic contaminant reduction; and about 90%non-ionic contaminant reduction;
 124. A method as described in claim 1and further comprising the step of removing nanostructural components.125. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said step of sorbingcomprises the step of electrostaticly sorbing.
 126. A method asdescribed in claim 12 wherein said air filter is selected from the groupconsisting of a coated membrane, a coated filter, batch processcontainers, flow through containers, columns, tubes, coating support,carrier materials, masks and particles. 127-131. (canceled)
 132. Amethod as described in claim 1 and further comprising the steps of:moving at least some of said air through a primary medium; andpreventing at least some of a component of said air from moving throughsaid primary medium.
 133. (canceled)
 134. A porous support mediumcomprising: a layered double hydroxide composition; and biologicalagents substantially sorbed on a surface of said layered doublehydroxide composition.
 135. A porous support medium of claim 134 whereinsaid biological agents substantially sorbed on said surface of saidlayered double hydroxide composition comprises a percentage sorbentvalue selected from the group consisting of: about 60%; about 75%; about85%; and about 95%.
 136. A porous support medium of claim 134 whereinsaid layered double hydroxide composition is represented by the formula:[M^(II) _(1-x)M^(III) _(x)(OH)₂]^(z+)A^(n−) _(z/n) ·yH₂O, wherein M^(II)is a bivalent cation, M^(III) is a trivalent cation, and A^(n−) is ananion bound in an intermediate layer.
 137. A porous support medium ofclaim 134 and further comprising an amount of lignin.
 138. A poroussupport medium of claim 134 wherein said layered double hydroxidecomposition comprises an anionic contaminant sorbent.
 139. A poroussupport medium of claim 137 wherein said lignin comprises a cationiccontaminant sorbent.
 140. A porous support medium of claim 137 whereinsaid layered double hydroxide composition is separate and distinct fromsaid lignin.
 141. A porous support medium of claim 137 wherein saidlayered double hydroxide composition and said lignin comprises layers oflayered double hydroxide composition and lignin.
 142. A porous supportmedium of claim 137 wherein said layered double hydroxide compositionand said lignin comprises a chemical mixture of layered double hydroxidecomposition and lignin.
 143. A porous support medium of claim 134 andfurther comprising an air filter.
 144. A porous support medium of claim134 and further comprising a wearable respirable mask having saidbiological agents substantially sorbed on a surface of said layereddouble hydroxide composition. 145-196. (canceled)
 197. An apparatus asdescribed in claim 136 wherein said M^(II) is selected from the groupconsisting of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Mn²⁺.
 198. Anapparatus as described in claim 136 wherein said M^(III) is selectedfrom the group consisting of Al³⁺, Cr³⁺, Fe³⁺, Co³⁺ and Mn³⁺.
 199. Anapparatus as described in claim 136 wherein said A^(n−) is selected fromthe group consisting of Cl⁻, NO₃ ⁻, ClO₄ ⁻, CO₃ ²⁻ and SO₄ ².
 200. Anapparatus as described in claim 134 wherein said layered doublehydroxide composition comprises layered double hydroxide compositionsprayed on paper.
 201. An apparatus as described in claim 137 whereinsaid lignin comprises a lignin-dominated substance.
 202. An apparatus asdescribed in claim 137 wherein said lignin comprises lignin sprayed onpaper.
 203. An apparatus as described in claim 138 wherein said anioniccontaminant sorbent is selected from the group consisting of abiological agent sorbent, an inorganic anionic contaminant sorbent,organic anionic contaminant sorbent, a virus sorbent, a bacteriasorbent, a fingi sorbent, a hormone sorbent, a prion sorbent, a proteinsorbent, a nucleic acid sorbent, MS2 virus sorbent, Phi-X 174 sorbent,Escherichia coli strain sorbent, and Psudomonas arugenosa sorbent. 204.An apparatus as described in claim 139 wherein said cationic contaminantsorbent is selected from the group consisting of a lead sorbent, achromium sorbent, a zinc sorbent, a mercury sorbent, an ammoniumsorbent, a sodium sorbent, a calcium sorbent, an iron sorbent and acopper sorbent.
 205. An apparatus as described in claim 142 wherein saidchemical mixture is selected from the group consisting of ionic bonds,covalent bonds, tether molecules, and hydrophobic interaction.
 206. Anapparatus as described in claim 134 and further comprising areactivation element.
 207. An apparatus as described in claim 134 andfurther comprising a biological agent identification element.
 208. Anapparatus as described in claim 134 and further comprising an amount oforganic composition.
 209. An apparatus as described in claim 208 whereinsaid organic composition comprises a non-ionic organic contaminantsorbent.
 210. An apparatus as described in claim 209 wherein saidnon-ionic organic contaminant sorbent is selected from the groupconsisting of a benzene sorbent, an ethybenzene sorbent, a toluenesorbent, a xylene sorbent, an aromatic compound sorbent, aperchloroethene sorbent, a trichloroethene sorbent and a dichloroethenesorbent.
 211. An apparatus as described in claim 143 wherein said airfilter is selected from the group consisting of is selected from thegroup consisting of a coated membrane, coated filter, batch processcontainers, flow through containers, columns, tubes, coating support,carrier materials, masks and particles. 212-217. (canceled)